News

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy’s D’Penguineers: Team 1717 Seeds First in Newton Division After Two Days of Competition at the World Championships

Release prepared by the DP Engineering Academy Public Relations and Event Reporting Team: Jeff Gau, Chloe Warinner, Justin Morris, Sepideh Parhami, Phillip Hodgson, Parker Olson, & Danielle Tisdale

After winning two regional competitions, the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy’s FIRST Robotics Team 1717, the D’Penguineers, is rocking the competition at the World Championship in St. Louis, ranking number one after a perfect winning streak.

To qualify for the world championships, teams must either be on the winning alliance of a regional, win the “Rookie All-Star” or “Chairman”s award, or be selected from the waitlist lottery. This year, there is a record breaking number of teams, with four hundred teams divided into four divisions (Archimedes, Curie, Galileo, and Newton). Each division functions similarly to regional competition, where teams compete in the qualification matches for a chance to select their alliance partners for the elimination process. The winners of each division make it to the big stage, Einstein, where they will compete with three other alliances for a shot at taking home the title of “world champions.”

This years’ game, REBOUND RUMBLE, is played by two competing alliances of three robots each on a 27 by 54 foot field. The goal of the game is to score as many foam basketballs into basketball hoops as possible within two minutes. Towards the end of the match, teams compete to balance on the teetering bridges in the middle of the field.

“Our robot this year is possibly the best we’ve ever brought to this competition, and think with a little luck we could be champions,” said student Phillip Hodgson. “That would be such an amazing way to finish this amazing season, and because our team is all seniors, this is our only chance to do it.”

Just getting to Einstein would be an achievement, and a first for the team.

You can watch Team 1717 playing live today (Saturday, April 28) by going to science.ksc.nasa.gov/robotics